Ditching-machine.



E. B. WILSON.

DITGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22. 1912.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

E. B. WILSON.

,DITOHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1912.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH CO WASI-IlNGTAN, n r

E. B. WILSON.

DITUHING MACHINE,

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 22, 1912.

Patented N0v.4,1913.

3 8HEETS-SHEET 3.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPN c0., WASHINGTON. D. c.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD 3. WILSON, OF WORLAND, WYOMING.

DI'ICHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4:, 1913.

Application filed May 22, 1912. Serial No. 698,992.

I '0 all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, EDWARD B. lVILSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vorland, in the county of Bighorn, in the State of Wyoming, have invented a new and useful Ditching-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in the class of ditching machines in which endless traveling aprons or drapers are employed for conveying and depositing earth at the side of the ditch.

My machine is so constructed that it deposits the earth plowed up far enough from the ditch laterally to be out of the way in subsequent operation of the ditch, and one of my objects is to vary the distance of theplace of such deposit from the ditch by a certain endwise adjustment of the rear or cross draper; second,to provide a means of trimming the sides of a ditch to a smooth slope instead of vertically as with the common plow; third,--to provide a means of adjusting the plow, while in use, so as to regulate the depth of cut, thus holding an even grade, and at the same time to allow a swinging motion of the plow and plowbeam about a horizontal axis.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- 7 Figure 1 shows a top or plan view of the machine; Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the machine as viewed from the right hand side; Fig. 3 shows a sectional longitudinal elevation through the drapers and the mechanism moving them, looking from the right hand side; Fig. 4 shows a sectional elevation of the front frame of therear draper, in which the right hand half of the drawing illustrates one half of the said frame and its attached parts as seen from the rear and the left hand half of the drawing illustrates the corresponding view of the other one-half of the said frame as seen from the rear on a section just in front of the center line of said frame; Fig. 5 shows a plan or top view of the plowshare and its attached parts, which are the bank trimmer on the top of the drawing, the guide vane on the lower part of the drawing, and the foremost part of the forward draper on the left hand side of the drawing; Fig. 6 shows a rear elevation of the gears transmitting the motion of the large right hand drive wheel to a sprocket wheel from which the drapers are driven and also the mechanism for throwing the machine in and out of gear.

On the several drawings similar letters refer to similar parts of the machine.

The angle iron a and the cross-braces b chine. This main frame is supported by a wheel on each side on independent axles; that for wheel A running in a bearing in plate 6 which is riveted to the main frame and that for the Wheel Z running in a hearing in the vertical rack-bar S, the rack on which is engaged by the pinion Y and is firmly supported on the sides by guides riveted to the main frame. The rack S together with the wheel Z is adjustable vertically by revolving the handwheel X on the shaft of which is a worm-gear R which engages a worm-gear pinion directly below it and which is keyed to the same shaft as the pinion. By this mechanism the Wheel Z may be conveniently raised or lowered relatively to the main frame while the machine is in use. By this means the machine is kept level when Wheel A is in the ditch and wheel Z is on the ditch bank. The frame J is connected to the main frame by the pin K and bears the plowbeam g by means of the pin P. The plowbeam and its attached mechanism are movable about the pin P as a horizontal axis and are connected to the main frame only by the said pins P and K, the frame J and the drawbar (Z which maybe adjusted up or down by using the pin f in any of the holes f, f. The lever L is riveted to the frame J and is connected by a pin 6 to the lower end of the rack-bar M the end of which is forked to receive the end of lever L. The rack-bar M is movable vertically by the pinion N which is rigidly connected to a worm-gear pinion which is directly beneath and en gaged by the worm-gear O which is keyed to the same shaft as the handwheel U so that the operator can raise or lower the plowbeam g and its attached mechanism by revolving the handwheel U by its handle 0, while the machine is in use. This mechanism provides a means of adjusting the depth of cut of the plow or entirely removing it from the earth.

The machinery is thrown into gear and and 0 constitute the main frame of this maso held by a coil, spring operating t-he toothed clutch Qthe left memberof'wlii oliiis rigidly connected by a sleeve is on the shaftj with the sprocket wheel D. When the frame J is raised it strikes the side of lever r and automatically throws the clutch Q out of mesh, thereby throwing the machine oiit of'gear and by the reverse operation automatically throwing it into gear when the.

is rigidly fastened the roller Z on which the forward draper No. .1. rolls. This belt or draper is kept tight by the roller m under the rear edge of the plowshare h and the small roller n situated under the lower side of draper. The rear edge of the plowshare it is horizontal and the plowed earth is discharged from it uponthe draper No. 1 whichcarries this earth backward and upward and deposits the same on draper No. 2 which carries this earth laterally by the mechanism hereinafter specified and deposits it out of theway to either side ofthe machine. V

The sprocket-wheel E is rigidly connected with the sprocket-wheel F and revolves with it. This motion istransmitted by chain from sprocket-wheel F to ,a sprocket wheel at the left of the larger wheel in bevel-gear H and hidden from view by it in Fig. 3, and thence by keyed shaft to the large wheel of the bevel-gear H. This larger wheel of the bevel-gear H engages either of the smaller wheels of this bevel-gear at the will of the operator who can, by means of the hand lever s, shiftt-he smaller bevel-gear wheels with their rigidly connected shaft 6 backward or forward to engage either of the smaller wheels of the bevel-gear and thus regulate the direction of revolution of the sprocket I. This shaft may slip horizontally through sprocket I but is so keyed that the two revolve together at any position of the sprocket on the shaft. 7,

.The sprocket I transmits its motion through a chain 1 see Fig. 4:, to the sprocket u at end of the draper, the said sprocket I engaging the lower side of the endless chain which runs the draper. The sprocket a and its counterpart at the other end of draper frame '0 .are rigidly connected to rollers 0,011 which draper No. 2 rolls. The idler rollers y, y, y, prevent the upper draper.

side of the endless draper No. 2 from sagelevating and carrying the earth on the The ends of these slats run under flaiiges'on'draper frames 4: and "to which act guides for the draper. I

The draper No. 2 with its attached parts isadjnstable.sidewise in the line of its crescentshape. The draper frames o and w are supported and held in place by pins Q, Q

which fit into corresponding sockets or holes Q; n draper frame 'r and w. There are a number of these holes in draperframes o andw for different endwise adjustments of the draper No. 2 sothat the draper may be arranged to dischargethe plowed earth to either side of the machine and at any distance from it or height above bottom of ditch within the limits of size of draper No. 2. In order to shift the draper endwise it is lifted bodily 01% the pins Q, and then moved laterally and lowered bodily to engage diflerent pins. Thus the drape-r is held detachably on the pins but may be disengaged and reenga-gedwith ease, as required to projectit on either side of the machine. The ends of draper No, 2 v are supported from the main frame by rods, chains and hooks. I

The machine isintended to be operated by being drawn along the line of ditch by horses. A tongue T and a draw-bar dare provided forhitching horses to the machine. Small adjustments in the direction of motion of the machine are provided for by the lever V which moves the tongue to the right or left as it is desired to guide the plowto the right or left. The lever V is locked in any position desired projection on under side of lever V, which drops into one of the several holes shown in crossbrace a when the operator releases it. (The operator sits on seat TV with his feet on a footrest under thebracec and has within reach the handwheels X and U which govern the adjustment of wlie elZ and plowbeam 9, with its attachments as hereinbefore specified, respectively, and also lever, V which governs the side out of the plow. The handwheels operating through worin gears, are locked by friction in the position-they are placed in by the operator. The banktrimmer B trims the side of bank to the slope for which it is made while both it and the guide vane C serve to guide the plowed earth upon the draper No. 1. The frame of draper No. 1 is supported on the right side by the brace D and on the left side by a bolt through the plowbeam g. A rolling colter E is provided to run in line with the right hand I side of the plow to make a smooth cut on that side of the furrow. This colterEf is connected by its shank F to side of inner frame J by a clamp G. The

bevel-gear H and supports for rear draper No. 2 rest on a plate H riveted to the plow shoe bar I.

What I claim is 5 The combination with the main frame and a transporting wheel, an endless dirt-carrier and sprocket machanism for-driving it, and gearing operatively connected With said wheel, of clutch mechanism interposed be- 10 tween and operatively connected with the described.

EDWARD B. WILSON. Witnesses:

A. B. GATES,

R. D. GASSNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

